Improvement in grain-binders



' 2 She'ets-Sheet-Z.. C. A. PUSTLEY'.'

GRAIN-BINDER. Y y. N' 172'933'- Patented Feb. 1, 187,6,

* PETERS. PNDTOJJTHOGRAPHE. WASHINGTON D C -f chine in perspective.'

UNITED STATES PATENT EEoE, f

CHARLES A. rosTLEY, oE AUSTIN, TEXAS.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAIN-BINDER'S.

Specification forming part of Letters PatentNo. vl 72,9335 dated February 1,1876; application tiled December 16, 1575.

' of Austin, in the county ot' Travis and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Gram-Blndlng Machines;

and that the following is a full, clear, and'ex-v act description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in whichu Figure l represents the grain-binding maelevation of the same. Fig. 3 represents a front elevation of the same, With a portionl of the frame in section. Fig. 4 represents atop view of a portion of the mechanism carrying the clutch and levers, by which it is operated. Fig. 5 represents the arm that supports the gavel, and the mechanism by which it is operated. Fig. 6 represents two pairs of grasping-jaws on a large scale, used to grasp and carry the wire around the gavel.

Similar letters where they occur denote like part-s ofthe machine in all figures.

My invention relates, first, to a rotating segment, which revolves around the gavel, and has an intermittent rotary motion.

My invention further relates to a revolving segment with an intermittent rotaryr motion, having a projection or attachment, by which 'a binder is carried around the gayel.

My invention further relates toa revolving segment, rotated periodically by means'of j gearing and a drivin g-chain, having a/projecting pin acting on a lever ot' a clutch mechanism, allowing the segment to stop'and start again by means of another projecting piu acttwo wires to the grasping-jaws, so that while Fig. 2 representsa side levers, bent lso as to yform a cradle to receive the cut grain, and a compressing-arm above,

-to form and retain the gavel in position while j the segment, with Wire-carrier, encircles it Wlth wire. l

My invention further relates to the interf mittentrevolving levers, that deliver the grain to the cradle, in combination with the mechanism by which they are operated.

My invention further relates toan intermittently rotating segment, having a motion round the gavel, and revolving in a fixed ver'- ticalsegmental fram e, open at the side, through which the grain is received, and over which open side the segment travels.

My invention further relates to' an intermittently-rotating segment, revolving in a fixed vertical segmental frame, open at the side, and having two Sets of grasping-jaws, which carry thewire over the open side of frame, and round the gavel.

My invention further relates to a revolving. segment in a fixed vertical segmental frame, rotating periodically by means of gearing and an endless chain, havin g. a length greater than the circle traveled by the segment, thus giving *time to twist the band, drop the gavel, and' receive a new bundle.

My invention further relates to a-'segment Vrotating intermittently in a segmental verti-k cal xed frame., having cogs on its periphery,

which mesh with pinions a and b alternately, for the purpose of stopping and starting segment. l

My invention further relates to the use of two separate anddistinct wires, each brought into action alternately by a wire-shifter, so

that while one wire is being carried round the gavel, the other is in position to be taken up bythe wire-carriers on their subsequent revolution.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to de scribe the same with reference to the drawing.`

nected with either of the pinions a or b, and. it isretained in` position relatively `to the seg- 4 mental frame B by series of rollersld, attached to the frame B. This segment C might be 'made tapering at the points in the form of a crescent, and thus performv the same work. To the forward extremity of the segment C are attached two sets of gripingjaws, e a d el, fastened to a suitable frame, as shown i Fig.

6, each jaw havinglon the periphery cogs that mesh with one another, one of which, in turn, meshes with worm e2 on shaft e3, and is operated by pinion e4 passing over the stationary racks d', placed at proper distances on the stationary frame B, so that each pinion shall be rotated alternately, first in one direction, to open the griping-jaws, and then in the other, to close them again, by coming in gear hrst with the outside cogs of one rack, and then with a rack the cogs of which are facing the center of the segment. Only two racks d are shown in the drawings, but four should be used for the proper operation of the machine.' Two racks, d', should be attached to frame B at or near the place Where frame B is fastened to the platform; but for want of room they are not shown.

The cogs of one rack should face outward, while the other should face inward or toward the center. In front of the griping-jaws e there is a spring, f, for the purpose of throwing off the end of the binding-wire after it is released by the griping-jaws e, the wire having been previously grasped by gripingjaws el. The griping-jaws ecarry on their opposite face a cutter or knife-edge, to cut oi' any surplus wire after it has been securedbyfsaid jaws from wire-shifter g. The wires used in binding are fed to the machine from two reels, each wire passing through a guide-hole in the oscillating wire-shifter g, so as to bring it in line for the griping-jaws e to seize in their transit around the stationary frame B. This oscillating motion is produced by the lever g1, to which the oscillating wire-shifter g is attached, having its opposite end following the crossed grooves of the cam g2. D represents the Wire-twisting device, in the form of ordinary nippers, with a cutting-edge held vertically over the place where the wire band is to be twisted. The short arm of the nippers is connected by means of alinkrD, to a sleeve, It, surrounding the long arm D2 of the nippers. The sleeve h is attached to one end of a lever, h1, pivoted to a bracket on the side of tbe frame B. The other end ofthe lever h1 is actuated by vertical rod h2, which is elevated by the cam t and lowered by the spring i. The nippers D are rotated periodically, so as to twist the binding-wire, by means of the gcar-wheel E meshing with the horizontal gear-wheel F, which, in turn, meshes with the pinion G. This latter carries a spline in its t center bore, which engages in a key-seat or groove out in the long arm D2 of the nippers,

so as to allow the latter to be raised or lowered without heilig disconnected from 4its drivin g-pinion G. The gear-wheel E is rotated periodically by means of pin or projection j,

Fig. 3, on the outside of the drivingchain H, engaging for short periods with the stop k on the wheel E. The segment G is also rotated periodically in nearly the same manner. It is -rotated froln the main shaft I by means of the pinion b until all the cogs on its peripheryl have passed the pinion b then it remains stationary until the pinion -a is rotated'by the sleeve l getting into clutch with the pulley l that is rotated continuously by the chain H. The clutch t is operated by means of projection m on the inside of the chain HV acting on the lever fn, forcing the clutch to form a connection with the chain-pulley, a's shown in Fig. 4, and in that manner rotating the pinion a, and consequently the segment C, until the motion of the segment is continued by the pinion b, during which time the projection m strikes the end of theopposite lever nl, and

so disconnects the pinion a from the continuously-rotating chain-pulley l. The grain that is received on the platform A is brought to the cradle formed for its reception by means of intermittently-revolving levers 0, mounted on a shaft, O', which is revolved by means of a belt or band from a pulley, 19,011 a counter shaft, 111, carrying a pinion, p2, the cogs of which mesh with two or more cogs on the wheel q on the counter-shaft r. This shaft r is sup-l ported chieiy by the frame B, and receives its motion lfrom a pinion which meshes with the cog-wheel K on the outer end of shaft @said pinion being on the main driving-shaft I. The receptacle or cradle Where the grain is received for the purpose of being bound is formed of one or more arms, S, to support the grain, and springs S can also be added for `additional slight support of cach end of the gavel.

The arm .S is kept in position ready to rei ceive the grain by bell-crank levers t, resting against a cam, t1, that has a short portion of its periphery cut away, so as to allow the spring t? to act to lower the supporting-arm S,

and permitthe gavel to fall to the ground or out of the cradle, under the impulse given by theiupper -lever'a'as it is actuated vat the proper time by the cam u. The bent lever u 'is provided with a spring on its under side to aid in the compression of different-sized gav Vbinding-cradle at the momentwhen the upper lever u is raised bythe depression in the cam uf, assisted by spring on lever u, Fig. 2; then the supporting-arms Sand upper levers a will compress and hold the grain in form by means of the cams t1 and u on the counter-shaft r.'

At the same time av pin or projection, m, on

the driving-'chain H will press against the outer end of the lever a, Fig. 4 connected with the clutch l on the upper shaft e, caus ing the clutch to form a connection with the chain-pulley l', and thus put the segmentin motion. The segment, with lthe Wire in wirecarrier, will start 'in a circle around the gavel. When it passes under the gavel the wire, by its action, will be ,transferred from the outer -gripingjaws e to the inner griping-jawsfel,

thus compressing the spring f' on the outside ofthe griping-jaws e. At the 'same time the small pinion e4, that actuates the g-riping-jaws el, will pass under a stationary rack, cl/and close the jaws el' on the wire, when the .seg` ment, in its continuedrotation, will bring the pinion on the .worm-shaft of griping-jaws e over a rack, d', and open them, and the end of the wire will be thrown out of the way bythe spring f, thus leaving the outer gripingjaws e t'ree for the next wire. The segment progress'in g in a circle, thewire is held bythe inner gripingjaws e. When the outer griping-jaws e arrive' opposite vthel wire-shifter g` j the next wire will be held, by the shifter g, .in

line with the outer griping-jaws e, at which time the driving pinion of I`the* jaws e passes `over one of the racks d', causing the jaws to close on the wire. At the same timel the cutting-edge on the jaws e will cut oft' any snrplus wire. Then the segment C progresses with two wires, one of' which is already around the gavel, and the-other is in line above it, as

shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The segment -G having arrived nearly at the starting-point,

the tirst wire will have passed entirely around the gavel and formed a cross at the center otl the circle, and, while the segment is advanced around the circle by the gear-wheel b on the inain driving-shaft I, a catch, m', on the inside of chain H will .strike the end of the le! ver a', and disconnect the clutch l from the chain-wheel Z, thus making the segment independent from the chain-Wheel Z; and on the arrival of the segment at the startingpoint' it will become disconnected from the lower driving gear-wheel b, and come toa rest.

`The chain H is of a length greater than thev circle traveledby the segment, and byl this means time is allowed while the segment is at v rest for twisting the band, discharging the -gavel, and rellingthe cradle.

On the crossing ofthe wire around the gavel the' twister D will descend and clasp thewire at the cross. This is accomplished by means of a cam', i, on the counter-shaft?, acting upon the vertical connecting-rod h2 and lever h. y

The twister continues to descend until arrested by the stop D3, attached to the long arm Dz'of the twister, and even vthen the link D1 will continue to descend and cause the jaws Vot' the twister to close, so as to out the vwire and pinion Gare geared together, and the latter pinion is connected to the long arm D2 of the twister by a spline, it will give a full and iii-1n twist to the wire.- As soon a3 .the

twist on the wire -is completed,vthe cam t' on the shaft r releases the pressure on the twister, which is then drawn up from'the gavel by rmeans ot' the spring i. In the meantime the lower arm S, under the cradle, is released by .thecam t, that operates it, and it drops away from under the gavel, which passes to the ground or out ot' the cradle, the springs S ot' the cradle receding to let'it pass, and then re-v turning to their'vtirst position. rBhe upperor compression lever u is held down an instant,

so-that the pressure will help to displace the gavel, after which it is raised by spring attached and cam u', ready to act on a new bund `e of grain. Thespring under the upper lever u will enable it to compress irregular size gavels. A similar spr-ing can be placed ou the lower lever S, if necessary.' l

Qn the wire being cut by the-twister D and free from the gavel, a spring will draw the surplus wire back to the guide in the shifter g. At the same time the wire will be placed in line with the outer griping-jaws e on their subsequent revolution, and the second wire will be thrown out of line by the shifter g as it is operated by the lever g1, guidedA by the groove in the periphery of the cam. g2 By crossing the wire at the center of the segmentl I avoid the unreeling of. more wire than is remain stationary a suiicient length of `time for the twister to act on the band for the gavel to be discharged, and for the cradle to be relled, when, by the action ot' the chain on the clutch mechanism, the segment is started on its subsequent circle. n

By increasing the length of chain and size of chain-pulleys, and decreasing the speed of the counter-shaft r, any length of time required Jfor twisting the band, discharging the gavel, andrelling the cradle, can bc had while the segment is at rest.

The segment revolves between rollers d, supported by the frame B. By a simple change in ihearrangements of the cams and the wirecarrier, the segment can be revolved in the opposite direction, and perform the same operation; or, if it should be preferred to use three `wires in succession, it could be accomplished l by a simple modification of the guiding-shifter.

.Having thus fully described the construction and operation ot' the machine, what I l claim therein as new, and desire to secure by i whereby the segment is started in its rotation.

4 The two pairs of grasping-jaws e and el,

`with springfand cutting knife-edge, in combinationv with worm e2, shaft e3, and pinion e, substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. The combinationiof two pairs of grasping-jaws, e and el, attached to a rotating segnient, and operated by means of stationary racks d', arranged and located uponframe B, so that the jaws eand el are opened and closed alternately when in proper position to grasp or release the binding-wire, substantially as `and for the purpose described.

6. The oscillating wire-shifter g, present-in g two wires to the grasping-jaws, each one al- .ternately, substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

7; The wire-twisting mechanism D, rotated periodicallyfbymeansof gearing, in combination with `the chain H,having projecting` pinj, that rotates said twisting mechanism, substantially as andforthe purpose described.

8. The combination, with an intermittentlyrotating segment, C, and its open-side frame B, of a lever or seriesfoflevers,-S, and a compression-arm, u, to `hold `and compress the gavel While being encircled with the'binder.

9. The intermittently-revolving levers O on shaft O', in combination with geared mechanism that operates them,substantiallyY as and for the purpose described. A

10. An.intermittently-rotating segment, Cf having a motion round the gavel, in combination with a fixed vertical segmental frame, B7 into and through the open side of which the grain is received, and over which open side the segment C travels `to encircle the grain with the binder.

11. The combiuatiomwith-a fixed vertical segmental frame, B,- and theintermittentlyrotating segment C, traveling therein, of ithe wire-grasping jaws e and el,l which travel over the open side ot' the frame, and carry the binder around a gavel receivedinto the circle from its broken side. l

12. The combination, with an intermittently-rotating segment, G,andl a fixed segmental frame, within which it travels, ofan endless driving-chain, H, for 'said segment C, having a length greater 'than'the circle traveled by the segment, whereby timeis given to `twist the wire, discharge the ,f yaveh` and `receive `the fresh bundle.

13. The combination, with an intermittently-rotating segment, C, having cogs onl itswperiphery, ofthe pi'nions a and b,within the xed segmental frame B, and with: which the cogged` segment Girneshes and@ leaves alternately, andso-fstops vthe rotation of the `segment atthe point of making, the twist.

14. In a grain-binder in which the Wire-is carriediby a segment, C, 4having two. graspingjaws, e and el, as described, the combination therewith of mechanism* for alternately presenting separateand distinct wres,sothat while one wire is Vbeing `carried around `the gavel anotheris in4 position to ,be seized as thesegment next passes'in its orbit. Y

CHARLES A. POSTLEY.

Witnesses:

E. G. WEAVER, OHARS. PosTLEY. 

